# Software requirements brief template

Published 2 June 2026. Updated 6 June 2026. By the LOLCorp engineering team.

**Short answer:** A good software brief covers the problem, the users, the key workflows, must-have features, integrations, constraints and timeline in plain language. It does not need to be technical. One page is enough for a developer to give you a realistic estimate.

## Why a brief matters
Vague briefs create padded quotes and mismatched expectations. A clear one-pager lets suppliers price accurately and lets you compare proposals fairly. It also forces you to decide what really matters before money is spent.

## The template
Copy these headings into a document and answer each in a sentence or two.
- The problem: what is painful, slow or risky today?
- The goal: what does success look like, and how will you measure it?
- Users: who will use the system, how many, and what can each type of user do?
- Key workflows: the three to five journeys that matter most, step by step.
- Must-have features, nice-to-haves and things explicitly out of scope.
- Integrations: which tools or systems must it connect to?
- Data: what existing data needs migrating, and where does it live?
- Constraints: compliance, security, hosting, budget range, deadlines.
- Decision-makers: who signs off, and who will use it daily?

## A worked example
“We run a small logistics firm. Dispatchers track deliveries in three spreadsheets and phone calls, and errors cost us time every week. We want one system where dispatchers assign jobs, drivers update status from their phones, and managers see a live dashboard and a weekly report. About 25 users. It must connect to our accounting software. We would like a first version in two to three months.”

That paragraph alone is enough for an experienced team to scope sensibly: roles, workflows, reporting, mobile access, integration and timeline.

## How detailed should you be?
Detailed enough to describe outcomes and workflows, not so detailed that you prescribe the technology. Leave the technical design to the team you hire. If you are unsure which features you need, our instant quote generator lists sixteen common ones to prompt your thinking.

## Common briefing mistakes

- Describing the solution (“a mobile app with a menu”) instead of the problem
- Listing dozens of features with no priority
- Forgetting integrations and existing data
- Leaving out compliance and security needs
- Not saying who decides and who uses it

## From brief to prioritised backlog
Once the brief is agreed, a good team turns it into a prioritised list of work: the must-haves first, then the rest. That list is the basis for the quote and for sprint planning. If you are building a product, apply the MoSCoW approach in the MVP guide before locking scope.

## What happens next
With a brief in hand you can compare partners using the choosing a development company checklist, then move into discovery, quote, design and build as described in the custom software development process. For the full picture, see the complete custom software development guide.

Briefing a website project? Read web design vs web development first.

Not sure you need custom software at all? See custom software vs off-the-shelf first.

## FAQ
### Do I need technical knowledge to write a brief?
No. Describe the business problem, users and workflows in plain language. The development team handles the technical design.

### Should I include a budget?
A range helps suppliers propose the right scope. You do not need an exact figure.

### Can LOLCorp help me write the brief?
Yes. A short discovery conversation turns an idea into a written scope and fixed price.

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Canonical page: https://lolcorp.co.uk/guides/software-requirements-brief-template/
Publisher: LOLCorp PVT LTD (Company No. 15380538), 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom. Phone +44 20 3576 3417, email hello@lolcorp.co.uk.
Last generated: 2026-10-25